Invasive Species in Florida's Saltwater Systems:
Where We Are and Where We're Going
November 5-6, 2002
This conference has concluded. This page
will remain as reference.
Invasive species have caused problems in
Florida. Our best information comes from terrestrial or freshwater
systems, where invasive plants, animal pests, and diseases lead
to annual losses of $179 M in agricultural sales and annual expenditures
of over $90 M on prevention, monitoring, eradication, control, and
restoration. We know relatively little about invasive species in
estuaries and coastal waters, but the appearance of green mussels
in Tampa Bay and their spread to Charlotte Harbor demonstrate the
existence of a threat.
In addition to existing problems, Florida risks future invasions.
Florida's broad range of habitats, many of which have been subjected
to disturbance, increases the risk of invasions. In addition, a
variety of activities introduce non-indigenous species at an increasing
rate. For example, invasive species can be introduced into estuarine
and coastal waters by 'escapes' from aquaculture facilities, releases
from aquaria, disposal of live bait, releases of ballast water,
and fouling on the hulls or the gear of recreational boats and commercial
ships.
Plan to attend Invasive Species in Florida's Saltwater Systems:
Where We are and Where We're Going and provide your input to
Florida's responses to the threats posed by invasive species. During
the workshop, speakers will review information about 'invasives'
from a variety of viewpoints. You will join in setting priorities
and providing guidance for future research and education efforts
dealing with 'invasives' in Florida's saltwater systems.
Format
Invasive Species in Florida's Saltwater Systems:
Where We are and Where We're Going represents an opportunity to
address a critical issue: the status of invasive species in Florida's
estuarine, coastal and marine environments. The workshop brings
together interested parties from science, extension, management
and industry to identify key challenges to effective management
of this problem, and it initiates a mechanism by which these challenges
can be addressed in the future. The aims include generating input
to a statewide management plan being prepared by an Invasive Species
Working Group and guiding future research and extension efforts.
Invited speakers will summarize knowledge, understanding and work
on invasive species at the national level, in a state other than
Florida, in Florida's upland systems, and in Florida's saltwater
systems. For Florida's saltwater systems, scientists, extension
educators, managers and industry will provide complementary viewpoints.
You will be asked to build on this background and initiate development
of a strategy and operational plan that will guide research and
extension. A working group will be chosen to refine and extend the
output from the workshop. In addition, we are planning space for
a limited number of posters dealing with invasive species. Please
contact Chuck Jacoby to arrange for a space.
Location
The workshop will be held at the Florida
Aquarium in Tampa, Florida. The Florida Aquarium is
located at:
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa FL 33602.
Who Should Attend
All those involved or likely to
be involved with invasive species in any habitats influenced by
saltwater should participate in Invasive Species in Florida's
Saltwater Systems: Where We are and Where We're Going. Target
audiences include:
* scientists,
* extension and outreach professionals,
* educators,
* managers dealing with 'invasives' or saltwater systems, and
* industry personnel such as those operating commercial ships, running
marinas, conducting aquaculture, selling aquarium species, or selling
bait.
Lodging
We have obtained a block of rooms through the Radisson Riverwalk
Hotel Tampa. The cost of a room is $89 per night with $5 parking
per day (a 50% discount). You can reserve a room by calling 800-333-3333
or the hotel directly at 813-223-2222. Reservations must be made
before October 6, 2002 to receive this rate. Please request the
Invasive Species Workshop block of rooms. Further information about
the hotel can be found at http://www.radisson.com/tampafl_riverwalk.
Sponsors
 |
 |
 |
|
Contact
Charles Jacoby
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
University of Florida
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL 32653
352-392-9617 ext. 272
cajacoby@ufl.edu
| Tuesday, November 5, 2002 | ||
| 11:00 a.m. |
Registration and Poster Set Up - (Lunch is on your own) |
|
| 12:30 p.m. |
Welcome and Introduction |
|
| National Overview of Invasive Species | ||
| 1:00 | Non-Florida Overview of Invasive Species | |
| 1:20 | Florida Upland Overview of Invasive Species | |
| 1:40 | Florida, Saltwater, Scientific Efforts and Questions | |
| 2:00 | Florida, Saltwater, Outreach Efforts and Questions | |
| 2:20 | Industry Efforts and Questions | |
| 2:50 | Management Agency Efforts and Questions | |
| 3:10 | Break and Poster Viewing | |
| 3:40 | Identify Priority Questions and Existing Efforts | |
| 4:20 | Identify Gaps and Potential Efforts to Address Them | |
| 5:00 | Assess the Attractiveness and Feasiblity of proposed efforts | |
| 5:30 | Hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, poster viewing, and tours of invasive species exhibit | |
| Wednesday, November 6, 2002 | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | Coffee and Poster Viewing | |
| 9:00 | Welcome | |
| 9:05 | Sea Grant's View of Invasive Species | |
| 9:25 | Initiate a Working Group | |
| 10:10 | Break and Poster Viewing | |
| 10:40 | Assess the Attractiveness and feasibility of proposed efforts | |
| 11:40 | Final Discussion and Close | |
| 12:10 p.m. | Remove Posters | |